By Daniel Whitehead

ROANOKE, Va.—After opening the season Wednesday night with a tough loss, the visiting Southern Virginia University women's lacrosse team earned its first victory of the season with a 9-1 defeat of Hollins University Saturday afternoon at Moody Field in Roanoke, Va.

The win is the Knights' first as an official NCAA program having been a club team the previous three seasons. Senior Caroline Schroeder and sophomore Rainey Whitworth scored three goals apiece to lead Southern Virginia in the win.

The Knights controlled the tempo of the game by outshooting Hollins, 22-6, and picking up 18 ground balls to 14 for Hollins.

Schroeder scored the first two goals for Southern Virginia unassisted before Whitworth earned her first at the 7:47 mark of the opening half. Schroeder tacked on her third moments later off an assist from Shanteya Holder.

Whitworth scored two quick unassisted goals to open the second half before freshman Kristen Kessler picked up her first goal of the season off an assist from Ashley Ahlgren at the 21:43 mark. Skye Lowry and Zoe Bradshaw would add two insurance goals for the Knights to finish the game.

Kathryn Lyman (1-1) earned the win for the Knights as the goalkeeper, logging two saves on the day.

The Knights return home to face Sweet Briar University Monday evening at 5 p.m. at The Fields in Buena Vista, Va.